Mary Ellen Tanner: Girl Singer is a two-hour tribute to the late local vocalist who loved to sing standards, orginally airing on Saturday, August 9 from 10pm to midnight on 91.7 WVXU, 88.5 WMUB, online at wvxu.org, via the free WVXU mobile app or the iHeartRadio app. This special will be repeated because of listener response on Saturday, September 20th, from 8-10pm.

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58:19

Hour #1

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58:13

Hour #2

This year, the jazz world has lost some great players including Paul Horn, Horace Silver, and Charlie Haden. Here in the Cincinnati area, musicians and fans alike are mourning the May passing of singer Mary Ellen Tanner who played in clubs throughout the area, taught at CCM, and performed on the Bob Braun Show.

During this special, you’ll hear from her longtime companion and local jazz great, John von Ohlen; producer, Stan Hertzman; drummer Ron Enyard; her pianist and good friend Lee Stolar; Carmon DeLeone, jazz musician andmusic director of the Cincinnati Ballet; and musician/broadcaster Ron Esposito. Lynne Scott, who was one of Mary Ellen Tanner’s best friends, shares remembrances as does bluegrass legend Katie Laur and former jazz radio host, Robyn Carey-Allgeyer. There will also be many songs that Ms. Tanner recorded including music from her albums When the World Was Young and Live at the Celestial.

This special is hosted and produced by Lee Hay.

**Thanks to John Kiesewetter of the Enquirer, we just learned that Mary Ellen's first appearance on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour was on August 9, 1964 - exactly 50 years ago from this broadcast! Plus, he has dug through the Enquirer archives for some amazing photos of Mary Ellen, including her watching herself (with her family) on the Ted Mack show. Here's a link to his blog: TV and Media Blog